Who are we...

We, as Christians, are called! We are the Church. We are the hands. We are the feet. So when do we serve? It seems we tend to be serving someone...namely ourselves. I will probably step on some toes with this one. Maybe even my own...but it needs to be said. This time of year I tend to notice a trend but it doesn't all happen just this time of year. It seems that we have the fluff, we have the powder, we have the pretty decorations and bring out the fine china...but what about getting our hands dirty. Its funny how we say we are all about outreach. We are all about reaching the unreachable and ministering to the un-saved. We say we are about bringing others to Christ and putting others first. I'm not sure I see that. Outreach is serving...outreach is getting your hands dirty. Outreach is reaching... - OUT! I am all for being filled and being poured into but its funny the time, the expense, the meetings, the lavish decoration, and the groves of people who will come out to pour into themselves but never show up for the ones who need a little decoration, who need a little help, who need a little bit of uplifting, who need a little attention. What if...what if we took a little attention off of ourselves and turned it toward someone in need. What if...instead of being the ones served...you are the servant. It amazes me, I'm not sure why, of the people who will show up for the "fluff" but never show up for the ones who need a little fluff! Yeah I may ruffle a few feathers...maybe they need ruffling. I am so ready to find a place where people truly WANT to serve. Where you don't have to go beg for help..instead you have more help than you could possibly need. Funny how people who I have seen once and people who don't even go there will show up to help but our own are missing. What good are we doing sitting on our church pews every week and never getting up! We go to be filled and rejuvenated but is it all about us? Is that as far as it goes? I so very much want to be a part of something more. A part of something that wants to make a difference and not just say they want to make a difference. So many faces missing from some crucial events. I take it personally in every event. No, it isn't possible to be at everything. No, it isn't one persons job. Collectively as a body we should be there. We should show up. We should WANT to help. We should WANT to make a difference. We say this is what we want to do...but our actions speak differently! Are we Christians or are we just seat warmers for our pews every Sunday?

Me...the Israelite

I grumble. I groan. God provides. God provides what we need. Takes care of us when its tough... but I still grumble. I still seek more. I still want more. I still wish for more. I still say that isn't enough, I wanted twice that amount. Three times that amount. Oh how I fall into this trap so easily. God delivered the Israelites. He provided what they needed, he took care of them, he told them not to worry, he told them all was well and to trust in him. What did they do? They grumbled. They groaned. They wanted more. Because of their lack of trust they were made to wonder for 40 years. They were put to the test. The same test that God puts me through. "Are you going to trust me this time? Are you going to see that I will provide. I will take care of you. Do you see it yet?" No, I just grumble. It's so easy to get to this place...where the Israelites were. It's so easy for me to say but why can't I have this and why can't I have that. If I could only get this amount. If I could only have that much. I have found myself doing this all too easily. I pray for needs to be met. God meets them. I pray for an opportunity. God provides it. I pray...I pray...I pray...GOD PROVIDES...but do I TRUST? So why can we not just be thankful. Why can we not just offer up a joyful hallelujah thank you to our Lord Jesus when He does what He says He will do. Thanksgiving for the small things that go un-noticed throughout the day. Thankful for the big things we didn't expect. Thankful for the prayers being answered that we prayed but ...maybe they weren't entirely met in the way we had hoped....maybe they were met in the way that God saw fit. We may think it has to be big to be answered when in reality the smallest of smalls is as equally great. God provides...bottom line. But do I TRUST? "Grumbling causes stumbling" ...the Israelites stumbled because they would not fully keep there faith in God. They would not fully place their trust in Him that he would do what he said he would do. He had delivered them from slavery. Brought them out of bondage. Brought them to the wilderness. Provided food and taken care of them but yet they grumbled. I DON'T WANT TO BE AN ISRAELITE. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:25-26 Tonight I just want to be thankful. Thankful that He is always there when I need him. Thankful He answers those prayers when He sees the timing is right. Thankful He still loves me even when I don't deserve it.I know I will falter and fail but I'm learning. I see David and He is so great at this...yes we all have our moments...but I can text him or call him about something and he just turns it into a moment of Thanksgiving at what God has done. I'm learning! TRUST. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

In pursuit of AWESOME...

One foot in front of the other. One day after the other. How can I be more awesome today than I was yesterday. How can I be greater tomorrow than I was today. Putting life into perspective...we aren't here for us. We aren't here to gain more. We aren't here to live life day after day with no direction. We aren't put on this earth for ourselves. We are here for Him. We are here to share His word. To share His life. To share His direction. His direction for our lives. His direction for others lives. We were all created for different purposes. Some are meant to preach. Some are meant to teach. Some are meant to lead. Some are meant to follow. What is it that we are called to do? We are called to love unconditionally. We are called to share uncontrollably. We are called to be more today than we were yesterday. Our pursuit as a family is to become more...more loving and more in love, more faithful, more obedient, more courageous, more passionate, more understanding, more consistent. God calls us to be his hands and feet but often days I look in the mirror and say "what have I done to be greater for Him today? What have I done to show His love to another. What have I done to be awesome for Christ today?" This life is not about acquiring more things and having more. Its about seeing how many great things we can do with what he has already given us and what he continues to give. Sometimes this is hard. We are always in pursuit of more. It's human nature to want more to buy more to have more. But, when we get more...how much more is enough? Or, do we just want more? What kind of awesome things can we do with more. Our pursuit of the ultimate more might come in funding adoptions (maybe our own), building orphanages, paying camp tuition's, buying someones groceries, funding an entire angel tree, building our own camp, giving like we have never been able to give before. It's all about furthering God's kingdom...NOT MINE! Now, don't get me wrong...we aren't perfect and I'm not playing a we are better than you card. Its taken a long time for the mentality of having "more" to come into perspective and some days we fail at it miserably. But, as a collective group in pursuit of the same "greatness", the same "more", the same "awesome"...We could change the face of this nation. We could change a world. There would be no more orphans, no more hungry...become the father to the fatherless...WE...COULD...BE...AWESOME!

It's been awhile...

Yes...I am behind! It has been a fabulously crazy busy last few months and I have missed blogging/writing like crazy! Glad to be back at it! What a busy few months we have had with our first year of homeschooling and trying to find some normalcy to our days. I have loved having my boys at home and being the one to teach and pour into them daily. It has been great to see them grown, learn and accomplish new things daily. It isn't easy. It's lots of work. But it is so worth it. Our days are crazy and the weeks and days tend to get away from me. Probably the biggest struggle is finding that balance...as I laugh out loud. There is no balance and there is no normal! Every day is different and brings on its next struggle and hurdle to overcome but we are making it. With four kids...three in school...on three different levels... and a 3 year old to still make happy and spend time with isn't always easy. Some days I am kicking myself feeling I have neglected him or not spent enough time with the other boys. But at the end of the day I just have to chalk it up to I have done my best and that is all I can do! I am getting to spend so much more time with them than I have in several years and I love that. Mom is learning also! I have found that all that "stuff" I did back in high school...must have sunk in a little. We have been working on Algebra which was not my favorite in school but has come back to me as well as all the diagramming. Can't say I remember all of it because I remember the lines going a few ways but some of this has been ridiculous! But we are all learning together and what we don't know we will figure out. Feeling very blessed that God has given me this opportunity to pour into my kids. Blessed that I have been given the opportunity for my kids to pour into me on a daily basis. They teach me something new every day. Blessed!

June 26th...

June 26th...it was Poppy's birthday! Thinking back to the exact moment when he left this world.

It was a night like any other.  Dad called to check on him and no doubt he would be watching the braves. Any night there was a game on you would find him in his recliner, remote in hand and baseball on TV.  I can't help but wonder the thoughts that went through his mind that night. At 93 you know he knew his time was near. But you are never quite ready for that word at any age...death.  As bedtime came he made his way to his room. Dressed in his pajamas (he always wore pajamas) he crawled into bed.  I can hear his prayer in the dark of the night. "Lord I'm here...thank you for another day." As I think about the next few hours I pray he was at peace.  No suffering and no pain. At some point during the night he made his way to the guest room closet and grabbed his suitcase.  He laid it at the foot of the bed.  He was ready.  This event has played over in my mind since then wondering what was happening and what he was thinking.  In my mind...the angels had appeared! "Jesus is waiting...come with us...your time has come!" What a joy! With all the excitement Poppy did what any of us would do preparing for a journey. We would grab our suitcase and prepare to go.  I can hear the angels say with a little laugh and grin "No need for that...HE is all you need."

What a life he lived. What a legacy he left. We miss you Poppy and our love for you will never fade. You and Gran-Gran dancing on the streets of gold.

Easter with the great-grandkids!

Be Still...

"In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest.  All he asks is that we come to Him...that we spend a while thinking about Him, meditating on Him, talking to Him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with Him - totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of His presence." - Chuck Swindoll

Time to be quiet...time to be still...time to LISTEN! In this crazy world of hustle and bustle...running here and there...house full of noisy kids...going to work...coming home to laundry, dishes and supper...the lists goes ON and ON and ON. So many things take our attention and our time. Have you ever just stopped? Have you ever found your quiet place? Do you have a quiet place? For me right now it is my back porch. My boys might be inside watching TV right now but that is ok. I have spent the last 1.5 hrs in the pool playing with them. This is my time to be quiet, to listen to the wind in the trees, to meditate...to be renewed and refreshed.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. Psalm 46:10

Do the days and weeks ever just pass you by? Where does the time go and how does it go so quickly? Sometimes it will be a couple of days and I will think...have I just stopped to be still and listen to God? I know that my quiet time is often filled with "Lord do this or that" "Lord be with so and so" "Lord help in this situation"...but do I stop and just LISTEN? Listen to the small still voice inside.

"My Prayer...
Forgive me, God, for drowning
out your still, small voice with
my noisy life."

"God has special confidence for each soul. Indeed, it would seem as though the deeper truths came only in moments of profound devotional silence and contemplation." - Charles Brent

Spiritual renewal came for me this past week. What a fabulous week of VBS we had! What is funny and ironic is the same thing that I have been struggling with for months in my own life was the theme of VBS. Facing Fear...Trusting God

For God did not give us a spirit of fearfulness, but a spirit of power, of love and of sound judgement. 2 Timothy 1:7

So many questions I have had for God lately. So many times asking for guidance in steps to take. So afraid that we might make the wrong choice and make a mistake.  What I have failed to to is to BE STILL....LISTEN.  The days get away from me. Our house is a full house..a very busy and active house and sometimes the days and weeks all run together and I look back and wonder what I did or where it went. I am going to be more committed to stopping and listening. More committed to drowning out the noise.  Something we often fail to do is to take a day of rest. Taking a day to rest with our family to be rejuvenated and renewed.

We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship. - C.S. Lewis

What is so great about this blog is this thought of taking time to be still and listen has been on my heart for some time. David was asked to teach our youth Sunday School class this past week and he brings me the book plops it down in front of me and says "read this". What is the lesson entitled "SHHHH..." So, of course, I read it! That is where these quotes are coming from and I am so thankful that I was able to read it. Funny how God puts things in front of us...on purpose!

"MY PRAYER...
God, help me be intentional
about finding time to be alone
with You every day."

I want to be intentional with finding that quiet place every day. I want to be intentional with not asking so much and just listening. God knows my fears, God knows my desires, God knows my strengths and my weaknesses, God knows my innermost thoughts, God knows my concerns, God knows my prayers before they are spoken so I just need to STOP...BE STILL...AND LISTEN. God knows we are asking for direction in our lives...he is answering I just have to listen! God knows my fears and he is helping me deal with them...I need to trust and listen!

"My Prayer...
God, no matter how busy things get,
thank you for always
being there when my spirit needs refreshing."

A song that has really spoken to me for months now and is my "go to" song when things are a little hazy...


You Revive Me

You revive me
You revive me Lord
And all my deserts are rivers of joy
You are the treasure I could not afford
So I'll spend myself till I'm empty and poor
All for You
You revive me Lord

Lord I have seen Your goodness
And I know the way you are
Give me eyes to see You in the dark.
And Your face shines a glory
That I only know in part
And there is still longing
A longing in my heart

You revive me
You revive me Lord
And all my deserts are rivers of joy
You are the treasure I could not afford
So I'll spend myself till I'm empty and poor
All for You
You revive me Lord

My soul is thirsty
Only You can satisfy
You are the well that never will run dry
And I'll praise you for the blessing
For calling me Your friend
And in Your name I'm lifting
I'm lifting up my hands

YOU REVIVE ME!

Our God WINS!

So it seems everywhere you turn right now there is an attack on Christianity. It has been an ongoing battle since the beginning of time. However, we are seeing some things unfold in front of our eyes that were prophesied in the book of Revelation. Does it scare you? Does it scare you for your children? I think it is only human that there is a little fear in us as to what may happen right now in our lifetime and the lifetime of our kids. We would probably be lying if we said there wasn't just a little bit of us that want to pretend it isn't happening.  So what if it is? What are we as Christians going to do about it? Are we willing to do anything at all? Or, do we have the mentality of what can I do...I am one person! We are more than "One" person we are a community of believers and if we stood together and actually took a stand...oh what a difference it would make. If the body of believers in Christ would stand together and say "no more" what would that do? But, is this all God's plan coming into play? Even if we stood would anything happen? Well, if we don't stand I know that for sure nothing will change. We must fight for our belief and our faith. We must take a stand and say "no more".

This morning at the breakfast table we were having this same conversation with our boys. Talking about what is happening in our world...our schools, the military...we referenced it back to Daniel. Daniel prayed to God, Daniel was thrown into the lions den for praying, Daniel was saved by GOD! I asked the boys what if someone told you that you couldn't pray or that you could not go to church and worship. What if they told you that you could not share or show your faith with anyone? What would you do? A unanimous reply of "we would do it anyway" rang out around our table! We are being told as Christians that it is not ok to be a Christian  or to believe in GOD - our GOD - the one true ONLY GOD! What are we going to do about that? When our textbooks right here in our schools have 30 pages devoted to Islam and 3-5 pages devoted to Christianity...what does that tell you? Do you see where this is going? It is not ok! It is not ok for me to send my child to school and be "ok" with this. Because again I am one person...what can I do? We will be homeschooling in the fall. Oh yes, I have gotten the "are you crazy" looks..."how are you going to afford that"questions ..."I could never do that" statements...I ask the questions "at what cost can you not do it?" Is it going to be easy? No, I am sure there are days we will absolutely struggle to make it through the day! But I do know that the great wonderful days will far outweigh the bad and I am willing to deal with a few bad days for all the good! "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkeness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you..." Daniel 2:20-23

Hmmmm, I think that works with our Christian walk also. Are we willing to endure a few "bad" days to have an eternity of "good"? No matter what happens...no matter what takes place...no matter what this "world" as we know it comes to..."as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15.  So in the end no matter what happens if you are a true Christian Our God WINS! We win in the end to spend an eternity with our Saviour in Heaven! We win! No matter what if you are a Christian...you win in the end! The process may not be easy...and the trials maybe great...but his love endures forever!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" James1:2

The Do Over...

Came across something in my quiet time that really spoke to me. You know we spend part of our lives just thinking well "I should have done this" or "I should have done that". Wanted to share this with you:

Ever wish you could start over? Probably all of us have longed for another chance in some area of our lives.  We wouldn't necessarily have done things differently, just more or perhaps less...The truth is we can't go back, only forward into uncharted territory.  To sit in our sorrow would lead to misery.  Although regret that leads to change is a dear friend, regret that leads to shame is a treacherous enemy.

So how do we live without allowing regret to rob us of our joy? How about this insight to prompt us on: "And lean not on your own understanding" (Pr 3:5)...There is no guarantee that if we have done a part of our lives differently things would end up any different.  We have to trust that God of the universe who directs the outcome of all things that he will do that which ultimately needs to be done (in spite of us, if necessary).

WOW! Are we letting regret rob us of joy? Are we letting the woulda, shoulda, coulda's take away our happiness.  What if we just say "God, I don't understand this, I don't know why, but I know you are in control...I don't know the outcome but you knew the beginning just as you know the end". Can we change our way of thinking to "God, what would you have me do?" "God, please direct my steps!" . Have we ever wanted something so bad and not receive it right then. Only, to later receive what we wanted all along? Is God waiting for us to "grow up"? Is we waiting until we can "handle it"? We may never know. What we do know is that if we have Christ in our lives and know that he is in control we have nothing to worry about. Our answers may not come when we want them to come. They may not come in the form we want them to come. But as long as we pray for wisdom and understanding we have to know that God's answer will come...in his time...and in his way! TRUST!

It is easy to get our priorities out of alignment. It is for me for sure! So many goals vie for our attention: professional success, domestic happiness, financial security, good health, intimacy with God. I always think I have them in the right order...only to realize I fall short all the time...my priorities aren't exactly balanced all the time!  This is where we should seek wisdom from God. Without wisdom ..we waste our lives focusing on the wrong things. Wisdom enables us to know the difference between  what gives life and what leads to death.

In 1926, Reinhold Niebuhr first invoked the famous prayer; "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."


I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet I know the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.

-Emily Dickinson

Be the Blessing...

What does that mean? We have been discussing this on a daily basis as a family. What can we do today to be a blessing? It started out at bedtime one night when we were all getting ready to pray. I started asking the boys what they felt it meant to be a blessing to someone. We also talked about what it would be to be a blessing to each other. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31 This is like the golden rule after all right? Brothers will be brothers of course, but we were talking about lifting each other up. Saying positive things and looking for the good in what each other does rather than looking for what they might do wrong. At the same time we know that we can be a blessing to others wherever we may go. Follow God's example...Ephesians 5:1 What can we do for others to be a blessing? One answer was give money if they needed help. Yes, we can give money but it doesn't always have to be about money to be a blessing. We can help someone...another answer. Yes, we can help someone for sure. Maybe there is something that needs to be done and someone needs help. "See a need, fill a need"... from Robots. This is kind of a little motto in our house. This can be anything! Even if you see something laying around and you know it needs to be picked up...you see a need...you fill a need! We are told in Matthew 5:16...In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Let our light shine! Let God's radiance be seen wherever we are! No, we aren't perfect...and we never will be this side of heaven. However, we know that we can work miracles in people and around us every day just by being kind and somehow being a blessing wherever we are. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.  What happens when you put others above yourself? What a difference we can make if we only look past ourselves to see what someone else might need. Whether it is an encouraging word, a praise, help where needed, maybe it is monetary...a blessing can be as small as a smile and a simple thank you. Maybe it is a hug to someone who needs it! BE THE BLESSING!!! Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves. Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4. As I tell my boys, this world is hard enough. Kids (and adults) are put down and drug down on a daily basis. Be the one to share a smile and a pat on the back. Be the one to support and say "good job". I hope we all remember the next time we are in a restaurant...or in a store...in a parking lot...on the ball field or in the stands...no one is perfect.  Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has a bad day...they don't need to be reminded from you. Be the blessing and share an encouraging word.  You never know what that person is going through or what they are dealing with. The Lord Bless you and keep you. Numbers 6:24

Speak It...

It has been a long time and I was recently asked why I hadn't been writing in my blog...I didn't really have an answer for it other than well life's is just busy with four boys. I miss writing and I think about it often with anticipation of STARTING...but not sitting down to actually START.

God has placed upon my heart lately about being obedient. Being obedient to HIM! There have been some things I have been struggling with and honestly God has been spelling the answers out in front of me LITERALLY! I am not listening. I am not trusting. I am not being faithful that he will accomplish and do what I know only He CAN do. So afraid of making a mistake and so afraid of not making the right decision and because of this I am missing the blessing. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will NOT be afraid...Psalm 56:4 Why am I not faithful to believe God can do ALL that he says he will do. Why do I second guess what God is saying for me to do. Why am I letting Satan win the battle of the mind in telling me I am wrong. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:30  FAITH...have faith that God will save me and protect me. TRUST...that he is always with me and will never leave me.

For so long in our lives I believe we have just been content or maybe the word is complacent...these two words have been bouncing around in my mind for months. What is it to be content? What is it to be complacent? We have looked at life as "well this is the way it is...this is what you do...this is the norm...this is the way things are...this is what my parents did their whole life". However, over the last year or so we have realized that what we were living was a lie and was not the truth so we chose to SPEAK IT! SPEAK LIFE...SPEAK HOPE... SPEAK with PURPOSE....... We have found that the little world we were living in was just that...a little world and that there is this great big world out there that we thought for certain we couldn't enjoy...we just couldn't.  We saw from others what life could be like and for a moment you feel...well that could never be me.  Why not? Why not me? Why not us? Why not? So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid..." Hebrews 13:6 I will never know until I try and step out in Faith and let God have complete control of the decisions and of the situation. So if I give God control...am I going to listen when he spells out the answers in front of me? Am I going to listen to what he is calling me to do? For us it is a time of change. There are some things that need to change and God is laying the path in front of us. WE MUST FOLLOW! WE MUST BE FAITHFUL!

I know that the Lord puts certain people in our lives to help us...to be better people and to GROW! Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain; to the place where you dwell Psalm 43:3 . I truly feel we are at the foot of this great mountain....we are taking our first steps as we climb...each step may not be solid and each step may not be stable but we know God has placed the mountain in front of us for a reason. WE MUST CLIMB! Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead...1 Samuel 17:49. The battle is never too big when Go has control. We are on a journey...it may be only the beginning of our journey but God has placed it before us and we will watch as He unfolds each step for us. If you think of us...pray for these steps...pray that I will be faithful and listen as God commands me to move forward and to know the right steps to take as I do.